Rio Muchacho Environmental School Founded by Christchurch woman Nicola Mears fourteen years ago in order to teach the local indigenous people how to work the land via their chilren and also to provide an education to the local children in their isolated rural area. As in many parts of the world there is urgent need for education that not only prepares children for future employment but that prepares them to responsibly manage the natural resources that they will be entrusted with. The Community School |  |
Children riding to school  | The creation of Rio Muchacho Community Environmental School was in response to the lack of an educational institution and the urgent need for environmental education. Work to create the School began in 1992 and 1993 was the first School year. The School is constructed on land donated by one of the parents and the construction was a community effort, each family donated materials from their farms such as bamboo, thatch, wood and stone etc. There is one open classroom, a composting toilet, and a simple playground. The first classroom was built with assistance from Alandaluz Ecological Hotel and the other by the parents. Unfortunately we lost one of the classrooms in El Niņo and the climbing frame during the earthquake (a power pole fell on top of it). The teachers and parents are working to replace these. Each year there is between 45-55 students, pre-school to 6th grade. There are 3 teachers who teach several grades each. |
The Environmental Education The curriculum is based on the national curriculum but incorporates environmental education. Theoretical classes are given with the use of an audio programme. These are complemented with practical work. The children learn about issues affecting their environment e.g. water pollution, deforestation, erosion and harmful agricultural practices. Within the School grounds the children have a tree nursery, and each year they produce fruit and forest trees. The students learn about growing vegetables and practice growing them in the school gardens. Composts are made for use in the vegetable garden and nursery. A lot of emphasis is put on rubbish management and separation; the organic goes either to the compost toilet, the garden compost or the banana circle, the inorganic is incinerated. Every year the children go on field trips to each of their houses. Here they work together implementing a chosen aspect of the Environmental Education. |  |
 | One limiting factor in the Environmental Education is the prior knowledge of the teachers; the level of awareness in the field is usually very basic or non-existent. The teachers receive training with us at the beginning of the year but if they change, the process has to be repeated. There have been many positive repercussions from the creation of the School. The community, once very dispersed, now works together in many projects. The School has created a centre for the community, a place which is used for meetings, courses, talks as well as fiestas, bingos etc. |
The School is registered with the Ministry of Education, which means that the graduates are able to go on to High School. Most have either gone to the closest villages; Canoa or San Vicente or have not continued with their education. The school often receives visits from groups of teachers who come to learn about how to implement environmental education in their own schools. 
Funding While the School has been very successful, funding is always a problem. Even though the school is registered, it receives no funding from the government. Parents pay a fixed amount each month, regardless of how many children they have in the School, however they are unable to pay very much. Other funds come from farmers of the area, supporters in Bahia, friends, family, volunteers and tourists. We continue looking for a secure source of funding. If you have access to any school supplies for the environmental school this is always much appreciated eg. At the moment we need: DONATIONS SO WE CAN EMPLOY A TEACHER
* scissors, puzzles, art supplies and educational toys for 5-7 year olds.
 | Children weeding the school vegetable garden |
TO DONATE FUNDS CLICK HERE |